By Brian Liskai: ATTICA, Ohio – Joey Saldana used a restart with just four laps to go to pass Cole Duncan and drive to a $10,000 pay day at Attica Raceway Park Saturday, Sept. 2 for the 2nd Annual Dirt Classic Ohio with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions to close the track’s 30th season.

It was the second All Star win of the year for the “Brownsburg Bullet” and the 73rd of his career with the series, putting him third in all-time feature victories with “America’s Series.” Of those 73 All Star wins, five have now come at Attica Raceway Park where Saldana has a total of seven career victories.

Saldana, aboard the Bernie Stuebgen owned Indy Race Parts #71, tested Duncan on a restart with 10 laps to go, trying a slider that Duncan was able to hold off. When fourth running Brady Bacon spun with four laps to go, Saldana made his move, diving to Duncan’s inside once again and making it stick.

“The biggest thing with Cole is he has a really good car and he’s got a great dad teaching him how to race. That’s where I was a few years ago with my dad just trying to make it in racing. Getting these big shows is what it’s all about but Cole drove a hell of a race. He did a great job. It wasn’t that he did anything wrong, I just figured out how to back my corner on the restart just a little bit and then just got a run on him. We had a really good race early on. We banged wheels a little bit but good clean racing and got lucky we got a restart with four to go and it gave us a shot at it,” Saldana said.

“I can’t thank Betsy and Bernie with Indy Race Parts enough for giving me the opportunity to race these cars. They’re so expensive to do and be competitive. You can race but to be competitive it’s a different story. They definitely give me a car that’s competitive to win every night. It was a great night for us,” added Saldana

For Lockborne, Ohio’s Cole Duncan, who led the first 36 laps, it was yet another victory at Attica that slipped through his fingers.

“This win at Attica just keeps eluding us. Congrats to Joey and their team. They’ve been a rocket since Joey got there. The 71 car has always been fast but Joey takes it to another level and that’s hard to beat. Our night started out hectic. We had a mag-generator kind of take a dump on us so we didn’t get to hot lap…the first laps we saw were the two for qualifying but we put ourselves in a good position there. We weren’t great in the first heat but we were good in the second heat and passed a bunch of cars and got high point guy. That says something about our team and our car…we were able to overcome and sit on the pole for something that pays points is pretty cool. We led a lot of laps but not the most important ones,” said a dejected Duncan.

“I can’t thank all my guys enough…Helms Construction, Motorcity Auto Transport, EcoMend, Wolfden Products, Scott Gressman at Gressman Powersports…he’s been great, FK Rod Ends and Ohio Heating…Sheldon and his family is here so it’s good to put a good show on for them. But, this sucks. The restarts were killing me. I was getting away with doing pretty close the same thing every time. He cleared me once and I knew where I screwed up on that so I kept doing what I was doing…you know leading the whole race and not having mirrors to see what’s behind you…I would feel worse if I’d done something different and got beat than to keep doing what I was doing and lead laps and get beat. I guess getting beat by Joey isn’t a horrible day but it would have been nice to take home that one,” Duncan added.

Republic, Ohio’s Cap Henry brought the small Lane Racing Team car to a third place finish.

“These guys have been awesome all year. They were the first ones to give me another opportunity this year and I can’t thank them enough. We were really good but I’ll take it. It was a fun race and I can’t thank the Lanes enough and FK Rod Ends, J&J Auto Racing, Kistler Engines, Wings Unlimited…everyone who helps out,” he said.

The All Stars also made up their rained out A-main from the Ohio Sprint Speedweek from June 16 as the first event of Kistler Engines Night. That too came down to a late race restart after Travis Philo led the first 30 laps. Friday night’s Attica winner Tim Shaffer and Chad Kemenah battled with Philo following a caution with six laps to go with Shaffer gaining the lead on lap 31 and driving to his 60th All Star victory, six of which have now come at Attica. It was Shaffer’s third win of the year at Attica and 16th of his career at the track. It was also Shaffer’s third speedweek victory earning him an additional $3,000 bonus from Cometic Gasket making it a total payday of $8,000.

“Hats off to Jeff Rudzik and Joe Demyan. What a great car and Cody (Jacobs) had this thing awesome again tonight. It was operating any where I wanted to go. It had to be a heck of a race to watch. I got under him (Philo) a couple of times and I got him to move and I figured I could zing him on the top. I went up and got in the dirty air and pushed real bad and Kemenah stuck in there and almost got both of us. It made for a great race and a lot of fun. I think we hurt the engine…I lost oil pressure there with six laps to go. We have another one…it’s wore out. This engine has 16 or 17 nights on it…it’s been pretty good to us,” Shaffer said.

The final race of the night – the 305 sprint A-main – also came down to a late race restart with Sandusky, Ohio’s Kyle Capodice passing rookie Chase Dunham with three laps to go to get his first win of the year and the third of his career at Attica.

“It took all year but we finally got a win. It was good close, hard racing. I knew I had to move up because Chase was pretty stout up top so I moved off the bottom up a groove and it made all the difference in the world. I want to thank my dad most of all…without him none of this would be possible. He’s in the shop day in and day out. Tyler Crump was helping us out tonight and my girlfriend Kiley. I want to thank Joe and Fran Darmofal, Franklin Sanitation, Fred Wolfe Auctioneer, Burns Electric, Greber Racing Components,” said Capodice.

In the 35-lap All Star make-up feature Philo and Cale Conley brought the field to green with Philo gaining the advantage. Philo set a blistering pace, driving away from the field and into lapped traffic by the sixth circuit with Conley, Cale Thomas, Shaffer, Kemenah, Lee Jacobs and Rob Chaney giving chase. With 10 laps scored the leaders encountered heavy lapped traffic which Shaffer used to take second

Continuing to race through lapped machines, Philo’s lead began to disappear and with 15 laps to go Shaffer was right on his rear bumper with Conley, Kemenah and Thomas battling hard for third. Philo and Shaffer raced side by side and nose to tail over the next nine laps until the only caution flew for a Craig Mintz spin with six to go. On the restart Kemenah dove under both Shaffer and Philo, sliding into second. On the next circuit Shaffer returned the favor, moving from third to first.

Shaffer then pulled away slightly as Kemenah and Philo battled for second. Philo would lose a tire on the final lap as Shaffer drove to the checkers over Kemenah, Conley, Chaney and Duncan.

For the 40 lap Dirt Classic Ohio event, Duncan and Saldana blasted into the lead with Henry, Carson Macedo, Sammy Swindell, Philo and DJ Foos giving chase. Duncan drove away as Saldana and Henry battled for second. Duncan encountered lapped traffic by lap seven but held a huge lead as Saldana, Henry and Macedo kept the crowd entertained in their fight for second. Macedo would flip on lap 14 which gave Duncan a clear track and out of heavy lapped traffic.

On the restart Saldana tried a slider in turns one and two but Duncan was able to hold him off. Once again Duncan began pulling away but a Justin Peck tip over at the half way mark kept the field close. Duncan got a much better restart this time and pulled way again from Saldana, Henry, Brady Bacon, Philo, Swindell and 20th starter Chris Andrews. With 15 laps to go Duncan held a commanding lead over Saldana, Henry, Bacon, Philo, Andrews and 22nd starter Shaffer.

Nothing changed in the top seven running order until there were four laps to go as Bacon spun while battling Henry for third. This time on the restart Saldana tried the slider again on Duncan and this time it stuck as he edged into the lead. Saldana pulled away for the victory over Duncan, Henry, Philo and Andrews.

Capodice and Dunham brought the field to green for the 25 lap 305 sprint A-main. A pair of cautions kept the event from getting underway but the third attempt saw Dunham jump into the lead over Capodice, Dustin Stroup, Steve Rando, Landon LaLonde and Kelsey Ivy. Dunham blasted away at the top cushion while Capodice inched closer on the bottom lap after lap. Following a caution on lap nine, Capodice attempt a run on the bottom for the lead but Dunham was just too strong on the cushion.

With 10 laps to go Capodice altered his line, moving up the track a groove and he started to close on Dunham. Capodice drove into the lead exiting turn two on lap 17 when Dunham bottled on the cushion. But, the caution came out putting Dunham back into the lead. On the green Dunham and Capodice side by side again for the top spot with Rando, John Ivy and Ricky Peterson giving chase.

The final caution on lap 20 gave Capodice his shot at Dunham and he pounced, driving to the leader’s inside several times before taking the lead with three to go. Capodice held off a hard charging Rando for the win with Dunham, John Ivy and Peterson rounding out the top five.

Attica Raceway Park will be back in action in March 2018. For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com or follow the track on Twitter @atticaracewyprk or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atticaracewaypark and Instagram at attica_raceway_park.

By Brian Liskai ATTICA, Ohio – Tim Shaffer was there to take advantage when leader Brian Lay ran out of fuel with four laps remaining at Attica Raceway Park Friday and drove to his second 410 sprint win of the season at the track to open the two-night Attica Ambush.

Aliquippa, Pennsylvania’s Shaffer, who started sixth in the 30-lap feature, earned $5,000 for the victory. It was his 15th career victory at Attica as he now sits sixth on the track’s all-time win list. It was also Shaffer’s third All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads FAST 410 Championship Series presented by Ohio Logistics victory.

With just two FAST races left in 2017, Fremont’s DJ Foos continues to lead the series points. His charge from 21st to a 10th place finish will increase his advantage over Chris Andrews for that $10,000 title.

Ada, Ohio’s John Henry led all 30 laps for the $5,000 pay day in the Sunoco American Late Models Series feature. It wasn’t easy for the “Steel Driver” as he held off a charging Corey Conley. The first 24 laps Henry had his hands full with Steve Kester as they raced side by side lap after lap. The last five laps had the crowd on their feet as Henry, Conley, Kester and Steve Casebolt battled.

It was Henry’s first win at Attica this season and the 14th of his career at the track putting him third on the all-time late model win list.

Shaffer’s victory gives him a ton of momentum heading into Saturday’s Dirt Classic Ohio event at Attica with a $10,000 payday on the line. Shaffer also rolls off fifth in the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions make-up feature from the June 16th rained out affair.

“It feels great to be back in victory lane. I have a great group of guys behind me with Jeff Rudzik and Joe Demyan giving us the best cars. It’s just awesome. Tomorrow it’s about doing the right things and getting the car good and the driver running good. We have to start over tomorrow and do the qualifying right and the heat race right. Cody Jacobs has done a great job with this car. That thing was a blast to drive tonight,” said Shaffer beside his Rudzik Excavating; Triple X Chassis; VRP Shocks; FK Rod Ends; Scoville Designs backed #49x.

Henry has not gotten to race a lot the past few years. But it didn’t look like it Friday as he held off challenge after challenge for the victory.

“This is pretty awesome. I was sweating a little bit…my guys kept giving me signals…I knew they were close. I figured if I just held a line…starting up front was key tonight with the way the track was being fast. We’ve struggled on fast race tracks with this race car. Tonight we dialed it in really well. I have so many people to thank…Jim Weber of Jim Weber Motorsports, Charlie Truman, Fultz Fabrication, Accu-Force, my crew, John and Craig…they’ve stuck with me and put in a lot of hard work. We don’t get to race very much because it takes a lot. Thankful for my dad and everyone that supports us. We struggled a little bit off and on the last several years; obviously we haven’t been in victory lane for awhile. So this feels really good,” said Henry in the Engine Pro Victory Lane.

Lay and Craig Mintz brought the field to green for the 30 lap sprint feature with Mintz rocketing into the lead. Justin Peck stopped with a lap scored with Mintz leading Cap Henry, Lay, Shaffer and Rob Chaney. On the restart Henry drove under Mintz to take the top spot and a lap later Lay moved into second and took the lead just before the caution flew for Mintz who stopped with four laps scored. Mintz went to the work area and repairs were made and he rejoined at the tail.

Lay, who suffered a wicked crash at Attica the previous week, pulled away when the green flew with Henry, Shaffer, Andrew Palker, Chaney and Broc Martin giving chase. Lay pulled away steadily until Travis Philo stopped with 14 laps in. The caution kept Lay out of lapped traffic and when the green reappeared he used the clear track to once again pull away. Shaffer reeled in Henry and the pair battled the next eight laps until Tyler Gunn stopped in turn four to bring out the caution with eight laps remaining. That wiped out a nearly three second lead for Lay.

On the ensuing restart while Shaffer showed Lay his nose, Chaney blasted from sixth to third but would slide off the turn one cushion with five laps to go. This time on the restart Lay’s car, low on fuel, would not take off and Shaffer drove into the lead. Shaffer drove away to the win over Martin, 14th starter Byron Reed, 17th starter Joey Saldana and Palker. Rounding out the top 10 were 15th starter Brady Bacon; Mintz who stormed from the tail after his early race woes; 18th starter Cole Duncan; 19th starter Duane Zablocki and 21st starter Foos.

Henry and Minnesota driver Brent Larson paced the field for the 30 lap ALMS feature with Henry gaining the advantage over Steve Kester, Larson, Steve Casebolt and Corey Conley. Disaster struck after a lap was scored when George Lee tumbled in turn one collecting Rusty Schlenk and Ken Hahn. Lee was banged up a little but exited under his own power.

When the green flew again Henry and Kester battled for the lead with Larson, Casebolt and Conley waging war for third. Henry and Kester ran side by side over the next 13 laps with Larson and Casebolt doing the same before a caution flew for one of the infield tires being moved onto the racing lane. When the green flew Henry and Kester resumed their battle as did Larson and Casebolt. Casebolt would take third with 14 laps remaining.

A caution for Devin Shiels put a brief halt to the entertaining battles up front with nine laps to go. On the restart Henry led Kester, Casebolt and now a quickly closing Conley. Conley drove into third with eight laps to go just before Matt Irey stopped to bring out the final caution with seven laps to go. On the restart Henry changed his line from the top side to the bottom which stopped Kester’s challenge. Kester now had to deal with Conley with Casebolt and Schlenk, who had charge from the rear after the lap 1 incident, and Larson. Conley took second with five laps remaining and closed on Henry.

When the white flag appeared Henry and Conley were side by side with Kester only a half car length behind with Casebolt and Schlenk also closing. Henry was able to hold off Conley for the win with Kester, Casebolt and Schlenk rounding out the top five. Completing the top 10 were Eric Spangler, Larson, Paul Stubber, Mike Bores and JR Gentry.

Attica Raceway Park will close out the 2017 season Saturday, Sept. 2 with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champion sprints completing their feature event from the June 16th rained out affair along with a complete program for the Dirt Classic Ohio paying $10,000 to win. The 305 sprints will also be in action.

For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com or follow the track on Twitter @atticaracewyprk or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atticaracewaypark and Instagram at attica_raceway_park.